New Sony LinkBuds S Firmware 3.0.5 IMPROVES Call Quality! 😲
A new firmware just dropped for the Sony LinkBuds S dubbed 3.0.5, which replaces firmware 2.1.3
In the last firmware, Sony recalibrated the LinkBuds S’s battery to squeeze more longevity out of it, but at the expense of an impact to its battery life.
This time, Sony is adding a beta version of LE Audio which only works on selected Xperia smartphones. For those who aren’t aware, LE Audio is basically the next-gen of Bluetooth audio that’s meant to be more power efficient, yet delivering better audio quality and lower latency, which is important for things like gaming. And very soon, it will also support Auracast, which is a game changer. (I have a whole video about that coming very soon, so stay tuned.)
But of course, both the device and the earbuds must have hardware that supports LE Audio in the first place. Which could explain why, as of now, this experimental version is limited to the latest Xperia smartphones. Aside from that, this firmware is also adding some improvements to Quick Access to Endel.
But does this firmware have any impact at all in terms of the LinkBuds S’ call quality, sound quality, and active noise canceling?
Call Quality
(Tested in both quiet and noisy conditions using some really loud cafe style background noise, and some wind noise coming from a fan.)
It appears that there is a bit of an improvement to its call quality, especially in noisy conditions when it seems to cut a bit more background noise. And it also amplifies my voice a bit louder. Listen to the samples here.
Active Noise Canceling
Compared to the previous firmware, it seems to cancel a bit more mid range noise, though the difference is so small that you shouldn’t notice any changes in real life usage. Listen to the samples here.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, frequency sweeps before and after the update show that there are no changes to its sound quality at all. Even comparing the before and after recordings, I cannot hear any difference. Listen to the samples here.
Conclusion
Even if this was a huge update (it took me about an hour to update the firmware) there is very little difference in terms of the LinkBuds S’ performance. Yes, there were some improvements to its call quality, but that’s about it.
However if you guys experienced any hiccups with the new firmware, I’d love to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments.
Also below are links to the product if you want to check their latest prices on Amazon, or purchase them.
✅ Check latest prices:
Sony LinkBuds S - https://amzn.to/3xNMab7
✅ Reviews:
Sony LinkBuds S - https://youtu.be/xNO0ZI3HZ18
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